Deepika has been threatened over her role in Padmavati Picture: Kristina Nikishina/Epsilon/Getty Images)

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has been forced to cancel appearances after a politician from India’s governing party called for her to be beheaded.

Surajpal Amu, the chief media coordinator for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s ruling party, offered a £1.1 million bounty for the heads of Ms Padukone and the director of Bollywood blockbuster Padmavati.

Padmavati has caused a string of protests across India from members of the Rajput caste group Rajput Karni Sena, who claim that the film – which depicts the life of legendary 14th century Hindu queen Padmini – misrepresents history by depicting a romance between Padmini and a Muslim king.

And despite director Sanjay Leela Bhansali insisting the plot contains no such love story, the backlash became so great that the media coordinator for the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the beheading of Bhansali and the film’s star, Ms Padukone.

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According to the ANI news agency, Surajpal Amu said: ‘We will reward the ones beheading them, with 10 crore rupees, and also take care of their family’s needs.’

Ms Padukone has been forced to cancel an appearance at a global entrepreneurship summit set to be held in the city of Hyderabad and to be attended by Ivanka Trump and has been given protection amid the threats.

The 31-year-old said: ‘It’s absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation?’

The BJP has condemned Amu’s threats and is considering taking legal action against him.

‘A show cause notice has been sent to him. There is rule of law in Haryana and no one can issue such fatwas,’ Anil Jain, a BJP spokeperson, told the ANI news agency.

Member of the Rajput Karni Sena – who are also insulted by Deepika showing her midriff in one sequence – have reportedly been burning posters and vandalising cinemas in protest, according to the Washington Post.

Director Bhansali said: ‘We have made this film very responsibly, keeping in mind the Rajput dignity and respect. I would like to reiterate once again that our film has no dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji or any other scene which will hurt anyone.’

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